High Tech Plant interest

[crazydaz]

I am trying to gauge how much interest there is among our group in aquatic plants. My tank is past the dreaded Algae Cycles, and I'm forming a nice collection which should be complete at the end of this week for a while. I run 12 Giesemann bulbs @ 54 watts per bulb, pressurized CO2, along with Macro/Micro ferts and a loaded substrate (mix of several different fertilized substrates capped with white sand).

I would love to trade/sell my cuttings on occasion, but I am not sure how many people would like to try some high-light/high tech plants or have set ups like mine. Some can be grown fine under lesser conditions (light/CO2/ferts); most will not. Africans will eat these plants for dinner, and the species of plants I have would not do well in African cichlid conditions anyways.

Knowing some of the "warnings," let me know if you would be interested in doing any swapping/trading/selling and we can talk! I will be ready to start sellling my clippings (weather depending) after Christmas time via USPS, and I would be willing to meet if you are relatively close to Goodlettsville.

Thanks! I hope everyone has a great week!

[allierw]

I have tropical tanks w/plants but they are very low tech. I prefer floating plants because they are 1)easy and 2)my fish spawn in them.

[rickl]

I'm wanting to start a planted tank eventually, but I'm planning to start low-tech as well. My daughter wants a betta so I'd like to get her set up with a nice heavily planted low-tech 10-gallon, something that won't take a ton of tinkering to maintain.

-Rick (the armchair aquarist)

[cbryll]

I have a low light high tech (pressurized co2) tank, and I'm definately interested in obtaining more plants. Which types plants do you have and would they do ok with the 'lower light' condition?

I will upgrade the lighting in a few months but for now to keep the algae down low light is better for me.

I plan on building a few more planted tanks soon too, for guppy breeding. Do guppies do well in high tech tanks,do you know?

[crazydaz]

Cbryll--Guppies do fine in anything (see stoney's comment)! :-)

I have a ton of different species of plants, but the only ones that I have that would do fine in low-light high CO2 are my anubias. Some are really expensive, too, and I have a couple of those that I am not willing to give out for a while (next Summer). The anubias I do have still need some time to grow a bit and attach themselves to the driftwood. I have some hygro pinnatifida that would do pretty well in your set up too, but I still am waiting to have that attach itself as well. Fissidens moss, needs to grow out more, but I will have plenty of it. I have Christmas moss that is ready! Depending on how much light, I do have some Marselia Minuta that makes a nice foreground, though it would probably grow very slowly and get a little taller than what it is in my tank. I will be getting some hygrophilia species "bold" that would do well in a lower light, CO2 tank!

So, that's "some", at least cbryll! Maybe down the road we could either meet up quickly in Gallatin(?) as it is about halfway between you and me, or we could chance it in the mail, if we wait for a warmish week. Anyone else who is interested, just let me know when (or if) you are ready to talk selection and so on.

I am always willing to help, if anyone has any questions! I will sell cichlid owners plants, but a great caution! No sense in selling plants that would be turned into salad!

[ree123]

I am always interested in aquatic plants of all types !
I would actually like to find a time after the holidays to drive up to see you, and your tanks, and chat for a while, in order to get ideas, and maybe cuttings too.
I don't remember where you live, but want to make a trip.
I am in Franklin, TN, south of Nashville.
My free time is generally during the day, during the week, in between all the stuff I do.
Would your schedule allow a visit during a mid day - week day ?

[crazydaz]

Hi Rick! I will have some time after New Year's Day. My tank will probably need some TCL as I will be gone for a week, so maybe you could swing by around 1/9/12? I would be happy to give you some clippings to try, but I do have some pretty expensive and rare plants that I need to grow out more before I can give them away. Some of my crypts in the tank cost about $70 per plant. I would like to find out the issue with your plants and do some troubleshooting with you.

I'm up in Goodlettsville, in the I-65 and Long Hollow Pike area. Let me know what works!

[ree123]

PM sent.

[bunnie1978]

I'm a bit of a plant lover myself. What have you got? What do you need? Chances are, I've got it floating around somewhere... though I did just sell off all my display tanks...

[ree123]

Hi Bunnie !
Long time gal !
Glad to see you around here !
You gotta visit more often !
Say you didn't sell of tanks.
How many left ?

[ree123]

Ordered and recieved plants via some members on The Planted Tank web site last week.
Mostly stem plants. A few rooted plants too. Very nice selection.

I started out wanting some Hygrophilia polysperma, but for those of you who know of different types of plants, these have been placed on a weed list in the entire U.S.A..
I have had them before and they won't survive our winters here, as I have tried them and that is a fact, but they remain on a banned list and fellow hobbyists who do have this plant are afraid to share it now.

This subject I address because it is a shame our government has had to ban a plant because hobbyists have released items into waterways in parts of our country that are considered invasive and non native.

I am limited of enjoying this plant because of other hobbyists who messed it up for all of us.

Please remember not to release any non native fish or plants or snails or any other live aquatics you posess into the wild, so this does not continue for any types of aquatics.

IMHO, we don't want our government needing to take stands against us as hobbyists because we don't think how our impact on our enviournment can be effected by our actions.
Just some FYI for ya.

Since this happened to me recently, it just seemed appropriate to share it here.
Not preaching to you, just suggesting food for thought for all.

[jessiesa]

Hi there! I'm in the process of setting up a 75G planted tank. I have a 4x54W T5 fixture, CO2, and I'm finishing up my mineralized soil substrate (I'm still trying to figure out what to use for a cap - suggestions are appreciated!). I'm ready to buy some plants so I can get them in before I completely fill the tank. I live in Bowling Green, KY, but I would be willing to meet up with you to pick up the plants if you have any for sale. Please just let me know what you have available!

[ree123]

In a run this a.m. and will be glad to chat more on the subject soon.
For a cap, seriously consider SMS or Soil Master Select that you can buy from any John Deere Landscape company. Of course it does come in large bags, so we might have to figure a way for you to find a smaller amt. if doing only one tank.
We have a great source of plants coming to our swap/meet on May 20 via a couple of members from Ala. you might want to hold off for.
Talk to ya later.....

[jessiesa]

I would love to use SMS, unfortunately JD Landscapes is closed on Sunday which is the only day I'm completely free to leave town. Have you used the Estes SpectraStone in black? I'm considering using this but the gravel size seems pretty big.

[ree123]

Sorry, but I am unfamiliar with Estes Spectrastone in any color.
Smaller size in better for plants, but sand size alone is not. Sand size substrate mixed with soil or other finer gravels/substrates is ok though.